Finding Sanity
John Cade, Lithium and the Taming of Bipolar
Published on 24. August 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-76011-370-4 (ISBN)
Description
In 1948, there was no medication for bipolar illness. Sufferers from the illness would live their lives - if they survived - in and out of asylums accumulating life's wreckage around them. But late in 1948 that changed, when an Australian doctor, John Cade, discovered a treatment that has become the gold standard for bipolar illness - lithium.
John Cade changed the course of medicine with his discovery of lithium; yet today most doctors have never heard of his name. His discovery has stopped more people from committing suicide than a thousand helplines, yet few counsellors know of him. And it has saved hundreds of billions of dollars in healthcare costs - enough to rival a nation's economy - but you can bet that no politician has the slightest idea of who John Cade was.
Lithium is the penicillin story of mental health; the first effective medication discovered for the treatment of a mental illness; and it is, without doubt, Australia's greatest mental health story.
John Cade changed the course of medicine with his discovery of lithium; yet today most doctors have never heard of his name. His discovery has stopped more people from committing suicide than a thousand helplines, yet few counsellors know of him. And it has saved hundreds of billions of dollars in healthcare costs - enough to rival a nation's economy - but you can bet that no politician has the slightest idea of who John Cade was.
Lithium is the penicillin story of mental health; the first effective medication discovered for the treatment of a mental illness; and it is, without doubt, Australia's greatest mental health story.
Reviews / Votes
This is strong, thorough biographical writing, woven from multiple perspectives, humorous and fascinating. * Australian Book Review *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
St Leonards
Australia
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
8pp b&w photos
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
476 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-76011-370-4 (9781760113704)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
08/2016
Allen & Unwin
€30.99
Available for download
Person
Greg de Moore is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry based at Sydney's Westmead Hospital.
Ann Westmore is an Honorary Fellow in the Health Humanities and Social Science Unit, School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne. She completed a PhD titled 'Mind, Mania and Science: Psychiatry and the Culture of Experiment in Mid-Twentieth Century Victoria' and her thesis gave rise to work with Museum Victoria and the University of Melbourne investigating nineteenth and twentieth century mental health care in Australia.
Ann Westmore is an Honorary Fellow in the Health Humanities and Social Science Unit, School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne. She completed a PhD titled 'Mind, Mania and Science: Psychiatry and the Culture of Experiment in Mid-Twentieth Century Victoria' and her thesis gave rise to work with Museum Victoria and the University of Melbourne investigating nineteenth and twentieth century mental health care in Australia.